The Las Vegas Thread and MSE guide

fitorbust

trets77 wrote: »

Thanks

£411 seems reasonable for BMI given my experiance , their prices are very hard to judge , most of the time they are around £500 , but they can drop as low as £300. January is quite month so i really would not like to say , but BMI are much better flight to Vegas than Virgin IMO , so i would be happy if it were me.

We have just got back from LV and flew premium economy with BMI and got our flights for £495 each including tax by booking direct. Their web site is good as if you tick the 'flexible dates' box you can see all the options and find a bargain.
PE is excellent on BMI - 47" seat pitch, priority boarding, wider seats and amenity pack with toothbrush etc.
If anyone has time whilst in LV a trip to Bryce Canyon cannot be recommended enough. WE stayed at a small B&B in Tropic for $65 plus tax including breakfast. We went from 82F in Vegas to 34F and snow! Good job our friends who live in Vegas for the winters mentioned that it may be a bit cooler over there as we were leaving, so threw some trousers in at the last minute!

trets77

April

PAUL_C wrote: »

Hi my partner and I and our 2 best freinds are going to go to vegas in april may next year.We would also like to see california LA,San fran,San Diego so I was wandering what airport would be best to travel too ? My good lady and I will be tying the know in vegas so I dont know whether to leave vegas as highlight of trip or do it first and have rest as honeymoon.I have to take her to Grand Canyon so I think a 2 day trip would be best as she realy wants a good look there so i guess that would be done best on drive too or from vegas ?.Last but not least flights I would realy like to travel from Gatwick as its only 30 mins from me although Heathrow and Stanstead arnt far they are a lot more hassle.And i would like a nice comfy seat as am a large fella my last visit to orlando I went with Mytravel and paid for the upgraded big seat imho it was worth every penny.My first trip to orlando I went with Delta with connections I got upgraded on way to conneticut which was awsome but on way home it was real uncomfy especialy for my lady as she was in between me and another biggie bless her.So who can you suggest we can fly with that can offer sensible price large seats ? that would possibly fly to vegas and LA so we could have option of flying into one and out of another.Also when should we be looking to book flights for fair prices ? many thanks for any advice anyone can offer Paul

you will have a lot more choice flying in out of LA . Air France have just started a service from Heathrow to LA , prices seem very reasonable at about £400 .

http://www.airfrance.co.uk/cgi-bin/AF/GB/en/local/home/home/homepage.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1286820547.1207160471@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadedjieghfkcefecekedgfndgij.0

also look into American Airlines . there is a thread on the travel board about how to get American Airlines flights cheaper.

booking so early you stand a great chance of bagging a good fare. the fare will start appering for April 2009 pretty soon , get in early :A .

flying to LA and home from Las Vegas with Virgin does mean leaving from Heathrow and landing abck in Gatwick. which is a little problem i will be getting around in just over a week. my plan is to drop OH off at heathrow hotel , drive to Gatwick , park car and get train back to Heathrow .

davidmcg2u

Hi Guys - me again!!

We've been looking at the tours on the 5 sites posted in the 1st page. Is it best to book before you go or wait until you get there?

Also, we'd like one of the tours where the helicopter lands at the bottom of the Canyon for lunch/snack & comes back over the strip. Any recommendations?

I'm a little confused to what's the best value one at present. Looked at Papillion (Grand Celebration Tour) site & Viator (Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour) site & some look the same but the prices are different. Both are around the $260 mark.

Probably looking to go on 14th April - my b'day!!

Thanks

wdyw

fitorbust wrote: »

If anyone has time whilst in LV a trip to Bryce Canyon cannot be recommended enough.!

One thing we have never done is visit Bryce Canyon in the snow ..must have been absolutely spectacular.

Mardrew

Hi folks

We landed back today and I just wanted to say a huge thank-you to all the regular posters for all your help and advice over the last few months. You certainly helped us make our trip what it was - an absolutely fantastic one.

As you have read in my previous posts, we stayed in some fantastic hotels - I will try to read back over the thread to find out how to upload some pictures of them - and also had some great meals, again from the recommendations I have gained from here (and some from Tripadvisor). (Mirage buffet - incredible, Venetian Grand Cafe Deluxe, Hurrah's Penazzi's, PH Spice Buffet, Venetian Wolfgang Pucks - all for dinner, MGM Buffet and also the MGM Studio Cafe for breakfast.) (Didn't like the TI buffet breakfast but that could be because we were buffeted out, nor Main Street Station dinner buffet! Tropicana breakfast buffet - not bad). There were lots more on my list that we didn't get around to trying but as we were at shows three nights and like to eat early and some of these were choices that we thought would be quick and convenient for the location of the show.)

The trip more than lived up to our expectations and I can fully understand why people return to it so often. It is a place that we will definitely consider returning to, possibly next year or the year after. (I would love to see the huge complex next to the Monte Carlo in its finished state. From what we heard it is going to be stunning.)

I don't think I mentioned this in a previous post but we went to see the Cirque Du Soleil show Love on Sunday. It is the first of these shows I have ever seen and therefore can't offer a comparison, but we thought the show was incredible. (My DH even had the added sound effects of me going 'oh' & 'ah' as my heart went to my mouth with the daring stunts that were performed!)

David

From the research I did before I went away, I decided to do the Papilion Grand Canyon Deluxe tour with helicopter for that reason that I had read that the south rim is supposed to be the best. (I'm sure everyone has different views of that.) Unfortunately, on the day it was too windy for us to go up in the helicopter but the rest of the trip was superb. However, this trip doesn't go to the bottom of the Canyon. (As a result of getting the refund for the helicopter part of the trip we decided to book tickets for Phantom, which again was brilliant.)

For anyone who is thinking of going to Vegas but think it is purely for gamblers trust me, you can easily fill a week, without gambling. (We did gamble slightly but I would be too embarrassed to tell you how little and that really is the key word.)

Once again, many thanks

Mardrew

trets77

April

ahhh that red bus syndrome strikes again.

Paris from $79 :shocked: :shocked: :cheesy: :T
from Fatwallet. stays until May 31st .

https://www.harrahs.com/MakeReservation.do?propCode=PLV&packageCode=IPMAM

(this one had me scrambling to check my dates and see if i could take advantage , but it does not beat my Caesars deal:rolleyes: so i'm sticking with that , well worth a look if you can bag a $89 or close priced room though unfortunatly ther appears to be limted dates available , would be much higher on my list than MGM Grand say :A :idea: if the price is right . the dates probably won't last long though so take advantage while you can if you can )

includes

• 2-for-1 admission to Eiffel Tower Experience
• Free t-shirt
• Free appetizer with entr!e purchase at McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino


Ballys from $69
from fatwallet . stays until may 31st,

https://www.harrahs.com/MakeReservation.do?propCode=BLV&packageCode=IBMAM

includes:

• 2-for-1 admission to Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las Vegas
• Free Bally’s Classic Logo T-shirt
• Free appetizer with entr!e purchase at McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino


MGM Grand from $89
from Fatwallet. stays July 31st .expire April 17th

https://reservations.mgmmirage.com/bookingengine.aspx?host=promo&pid=001&code=MKT108

https://reservations.mgmmirage.com/bookingengine.aspx?host=promo&pid=001&code=inb165

https://reservations.mgmmirage.com/bookingengine.aspx?host=promo&pid=001&code=inb166

https://reservations.mgmmirage.com/bookingengine.aspx?host=promo&pid=001&code=inb167

https://reservations.mgmmirage.com/bookingengine.aspx?host=promo&pid=001&code=inb168

Las Vegas Hilton $79 weekend offer :eek: :shocked: :laugh:
from Fatwallet. stays July 19th .

flyer for offer
http://www.lvhilton.com/newsletter/hotel-apr08/

booking link
https://reservations.lvhilton.com/cgi-bin/LANSAWEB?procfun+rn+resnet+r15+funcparms+UP(A2560)

Monte Carlo from $68 Warning this is a NO REFUND offer !!!
from Fatwallet . stays until july 31st

https://reservations.mgmmirage.com/bookingengine.aspx?pid=MCH&host=promo&code=NO%20REFUND

Sahara from $40
from fatwallet . stays until May 1st

http://www.saharavegas.com/reservations/Springtimespecial/?q=apr_08_1_3


:beer:

trets77

April

more offers released today

Planet Hollywood from $99
from fatwallet . stays until sept 9th . expires April 16th

https://roomres.planethollywoodresort.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?PROCFUN+RN+RESNET+R15+FUNCPARMS+UP(A2560):;stzoo25;?

( i have had problems posting planet hollywood links in past if the above does not work goto Fatwallet for the link)

Palazzo from $179
from Fatwallet stays until June 25th . expires April 15th.

http://www.palazzolasvegas.com/EPN0408.aspx


The Palazzo - Luxury Suites from $179
. Dos Caminos – Complimentary El Camino or Prickly Pear Margarita with entr!e purchase
. Morels – Complimentary Dessert with entr!e purchase
. Jade Noodles Dim Sum Restaurant – 20% food discount
. Double Helix – 2 for 1 glass of wine
. The Palazzo – Invited Guest Check-in


Wynn from $199
from fatwallet . stays until june 30th

https://reservations.ihotelier.com/onescreen.cfm?hotelid=4817&languageid=1&rateplanid=222995


:cool:

dan28

Harrah's from $75
from vegas-hotels-online.com, name: Deluxe Pool Offer, stay from April 2, 2008 - August 31, 2008
https://www.harrahs.com/MakeReservation.do?propCode=LAS&packageCode=IHPL1

redrichie2001

January/February

Only my previous two trips to Vegas. I got lost in excalibur both times!!! I found my way round most casinos but I found excalibur very confusing. I know they are designed like this to keep you in there!

Has anybody else had trouble finding their way round excalibur???

trets77

April

redrichie2001 wrote: »

Only my previous two trips to Vegas. I got lost in excalibur both times!!! I found my way round most casinos but I found excalibur very confusing. I know they are designed like this to keep you in there!

Has anybody else had trouble finding their way round excalibur???

yep , Caesars is the worst for getting lost in my experinance , followed by the Luxor.

edit: the rest of this post is being written on 27/10/08 as something for the guide that will be probably be reset in 2009.

Hotels

as a rough guide i have devised a personal ranking system that every hotel on the strip fits into. okay i have not stayed at every hotel personally , but rather the rankings are based on mine and other forum members feedback , as well as general opinion of a place and its attached casino . if you disagree with with these ratings , then please feel free to keep that to yourself :rolleyes: ,unless you are taking the time to compile your own list


The super deluxe

• The Bellagio
• The Wynn and Wynn encore
• The Venetian and The Palazzo
• Signature @MGM Grand
• THE HOTEL @ Mandalay bay
• The Four Seasons @ Mandalay Bay

If they were a football team they would be ....Manchester United
If they were a Supermarket they would be .....Marks and Spencer's

The best of the best with prices to match. these are the ultimate luxury proprieties . sure other hotels have rooms that can compete , but taken as whole these casinos offer the high end Vegas experience . The only problem you may have is that you may feel a little too spoiled.

The premium

• Ceasars Palace
• Mandalay Bay
• Paris
• Planet Hollywood

If they were a football team they would be .......Aston Villa
If they were a supermarket they would be ........Sainsburys

although they can lock horns with the previous categories , these guys have a broader appeal , that is more affordable. staying at one of these guys is certainly going to make for a very comfortable stay .

The Las Vegas Standard

• MGM Grand
• Mirage
• Treasure island
• New York New York
• Luxor
• Monte Carlo
• Ballys

if they were a football team they would be ...West Ham
if they were a supermarket they would be .....Tesco

i may have used the word standard , but standard in Vegas is a lot higher than pretty much anywhere else. you are unlikely to displeased with the quality of any of these. most are here by virtue of their age and that they have not needed to be updated to stay popular places to visit.

The cheap and Cheerful

• Harrahs
• Imperial Palace
• Bill's gambling hall

If they were a football team they would be ....Southampton
if they were a supermarket they would be ......Iceland

not able to compete with with the others , these guy usually have some good things going for them . they all have good locations .plus they are not a bad choice if your on a budget . Bill's is like a cult classic , some people prefer it to the bigger properties , cause it only has 200 rooms

Bargain Bucket

• Stratosphere
• Circus Circus
• Excalibur
• Rivera
• Sahara
• Tropicanna
• Hoooters

if they were a football team they would be ... Misclassified
if they were a supermarket they would be......Kwik save

there is reason these guys are cheap. the usually have more than just location going against them. you should research them very carefully if you are considering a stay at any of them. they might be fine for your needs , but they may well fall short if you don't know what to expect.